Watering-trough for stock-cars



(No Model.) B. 0. HICKS.

WATERING THOUGH FOB: STOCK CARS.

Patented Mar. 31, 1 891;

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NlTED STATES PATENT Orrrcni.

BOHN CHAPlN HICKS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE HICKS STOCK CAR COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATERING-TROUGH FOR STOCK-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,622, dated March31, 1891.

Application filed March 18, 189i). Serial No. 344,294. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: o

Be it known that I, BOHN CHAPIN HICKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWatering-Troughs for Stock-Cars, of which the following is aspecification.

Hitherto stock-cars have been provided with watering-troughs of twogeneral types. The troughs have been either permanent immovable'fixturesto the car, or else have been mounted so as to swing or turn to enabletheir contents to be discharged and for cleansing purposes. Theobjections to such tilting or swinging troughs consist in theirliability to get out of order, their initial expense, and the difficultyin cleaning them when more than usually dirty.

In accordance with the present invention the Watering-troughs are whollyunattached to the car, so that they can be wholly removed; but when inposition in the car they are securely and safely maintained in place.Hinged lids are provided for the troughs to prevent their fouling, andthese hinged lids, in addition, constitute a portion of the fioor ordeck when the car is utilized as a doubledeck car for the transportationof animals like sheep or swine.

The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a stock-car provided with thepresent improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of aportion of one end of the car; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view from theoutside of a portion of one of the side posts and beltryrails, showingthe construction of the troughsupport.

A is the floor-frame, A the vertical side posts or stanchions, A thehorizontal belterrails, and A the roof, of a stock-car of the ordinaryconstruction, except that the lower parts of the side posts are widerthan usual to adapt them to support double-deck sections, which arepreferably of the construction set forth in my patent No. 344,044, datedJune 22, 1886, to which form of car the present improvements areparticularly applicable. The improvements, however, may be applied toany form of stock-car now in use. I do not, therefore,wish to be limitedto any particular construction of the caritself, the construction shownbeing merely for the purpose of conveniently illustrating the presentimprovements.

Between each pair of the side posts A or between any required number ofpairs, are located the removable watering-troughs B, supportedtherebetween in any suitable manner, but preferably by simple cleats a,attached to and embracing the outer faces of the side posts, and onwhich the ends of the troughs rest with their upper edges about evenwith the upper edge of the belter-rail A as shown. The troughs, it willbe observed, are located outsideof the belter-rails. These troughs maybe constructed in any desired manner. They may be mere wooden boxes, asshown in the drawings, or they may be wholly of metal, or partially ofmetal and partially of wood, or of the construction shown in my pendingapplication for a patent, Serial No. 329,983,filed November 12,1889. Asshown in the drawings, the trough is made slightly tapering, or smallerat the bottom than at the top, so that it can be easily inserted intoand removed from between the side posts. Alongside the outer edge ofeach trough a lid or cover D is hinged to the car-body, as shown, whichcan be folded down over the trough when the latter is not in use, toprotect it from manure and other foreign matters. When the troughs areemployed in doubledeck stock-cars, the covers fulfill the doublefunction of protecting the interior of the troughs and also of bridgingthe gaps that would otherwise be left along the edges of the deckbetween the side posts, thereby preventing the feet of the animalsgetting into the troughs. At the left of Fig. 1 one of the double-decksections E is shown in its lowered position with one of the covers D inits closed position, showing that there is no gap or opening between thedeck and the sides of the car. On the opposite side of the car thedeck-section E is shown elevated, the lid D raised, and

the trough removed. In Fig. 2 the belter-rail A is removed, and at theleft one of the tro ughs 13 is shown in place, while at the right thelid is shown raised and the trough removed. By this simple means atrough is provided which is very easily removed for cleaning or for anyother purpose.

\Vater is supplied to the troughs by any suitable system of piping, andin each trough a small waste tube or opening I) is formed, so that thetroughs will gradually empty themselves when the inflow ceases. Theinflowpiping furnishes a more copious supply than the waste-pipe cancarry away, so that an ample supply of water is assured.

I claim as my invention 1. In a stock-car, watering-troughs locatedwithin the spaces between adjacent side posts or stan chions andsupported reinovably therebetwcen, in combination with removabledouble-deck sections located when in position for use substantially inthe same horizontal plane with said troughs, the outer longitudinaledges of said deck-sections being-wholly inside said side posts, wherebyspaces are left between said side posts which are not covered by saiddeck-sections, and covers or lids pivotally connected to the frameworkof the car, which swing over said troughs and form shields thereto, saidcovers or lids also bridging said spaces between the side posts alongthe longitudinal edges of said doubledeck sections, substantially as setforth.

2. In a stock-car, Watering-troughs located within the spaces betweenadj acent side posts or stanchions and supported removably therebetween,in combination with covers or lids which swing over said troughs andwhich are pivotally connected to the frame-work of the car,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set iffy hand in the presence oftwo subscribing, witnesses.

BOHN CIIAPIN HICKS.

Witnesses:

C. N. WooDwAun, E. J. EDWARDS.

